TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to the construction and mechanism of an ignition lock for vehicles integrated with a key. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an ignition lock for two-wheeler vehicles that comprises a mechanism for holding a key of one or more peripheral/secondary locks on the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
The information in this section merely provides background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Generally, two-wheeler vehicles such as, but not limited to, bikes, scooters and the like are provided with cylinder/ignition locks for locking the handle bar of the vehicle while parking to prevent theft. Such locks generally comprise a casing having a locking means disposed in the interior. A user has to use a mechanical key to lock/unlock the ignition lock of the vehicle.
With an advancement in technology, and to meet the growing requirements of user comfort, manufacturers have developed a number of keyless ignition locks whereby the users are saved from the hassle of carrying a mechanical key every time. One such arrangement provides a keyless ignition switch wherein RFID tags and actuators are provided on the key and the ignition lock. During operation of the such ignition locks, the RFID tag readers on the ignition lock identify the authentic user/key and thereby allow the user to use the ignition lock by means of a control knob for locking/unlocking the vehicle. However, one major drawback associated with such arrangements is the that the user still has to carry a mechanical key for the secondary/peripheral locks of the vehicle such as fuel tank lock, glove box, accessory box etc. Therefore, even for keyless ignition locks, the user is required to carry a separate a key for the peripheral locks of the vehicle.

Although certain arrangements have been proposed whereby, the knob of the keyless ignition lock is provided with a key to access the secondary/peripheral locks, repeatedly withdrawing the knob to operate the peripheral locks results in wear and tear of the knob of the vehicle.
In other words, the researchers are constantly working to develop a user friendly and technical advance ignition lock for vehicles. More specifically, an ignition lock that overcomes the one or more the shortcomings associated with the prior-art.
SUMMARY
One or more drawbacks of conventional cylinder locks as described in the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through an ignition lock for vehicles integrated with a key as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an ignition lock for vehicles integrated with a key. The said ignition lock comprises a housing and a knob assembly disposed in the housing. The knob assembly comprises a rotor that is operationally engageable with a locking unit. The locking unit comprises a locking pin having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is energized in a lateral direction towards the rotor. A stopper is rotatably energized about a pivot. The key is received in a slot of the housing. The key comprises a provision for being operatively engaged with the distal end of the locking pin. The key is restricted in the slot in an engaged condition of the distal end of the locking pin with the provision. The key is retrievable from the slot at a pre-defined position of the rotor, in a disengaged condition of the distal end of the locking pin with the provision.
In an embodiment, the proximal end of the locking pin is energized laterally by means of a spring supported on a supporting member.

In an embodiment, a knob is coupled rotatably with the rotor to selectively retrieve the key from the slot.
In an embodiment, the rotor comprises a groove on a side of the rotor.
In one embodiment, the stopper is energized rotatably in a direction of retrieval of the key.
In an embodiment, the stopper is configured to abut with the distal end of the locking pin in a retrieved condition of the key.
In one embodiment, the locking pin is laterally immovable in the retrieved condition of the key; making the knob immovable in the retrieved condition.
In an embodiment, the proximal end of the locking pin is engaged in the groove in the retrieved condition of the key.
In an embodiment, the stopper is rotated downwardly by the key being inserted in the slot, and the distal end is getting engaged in the provision.
In one embodiment, the provision in the key is a hole.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent with reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction

with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of an ignition lock for vehicles integrated with key in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the ignition lock depicting the different modes/functions of a knob of the ignition lock, in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of a locking unit of the ignition lock of Figure 1, in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of the ignition lock, whereby the key is inserted and is locked in the key insertion slot.
Figure 5 illustrates a top view of the ignition lock whereby the key is inserted and is locked in the key insertion slot according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 illustrates a top view of the ignition lock whereby the key is inserted and is unlocked according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 7 illustrates a sectional view of the ignition lock, whereby the key is retrieved from the key insertion slot according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 8 illustrates a top view of the ignition lock whereby the key is retrieved from the key insertion slot according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 9 depicts a key comprising a provision for engaging with a locking pin of the ignition lock according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the assemblies and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Before describing in detail, the various embodiments of the present disclosure it may be observed that the novelty and inventive step that are in accordance with an ignition lock for vehicles integrated with a key. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art can be motivated from the present disclosure and can perform various modifications. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the drawings are showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly, setup, system, device that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system or device or setup. In other words, one or more elements in the system or apparatus or device proceeded by "comprises a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly or system or apparatus. The following paragraphs explain present disclosure. The invention in respect of the same may be deduced accordingly.
Accordingly, it is an aim of the present disclosure to provide an keyless ignition lock for vehicles integrated with a manual key.

Another aim of the present disclosure is to provide an ignition lock for vehicles that is user-friendly and economical.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an keyless ignition lock for vehicles integrated with a key. The said ignition lock comprises a housing and a knob assembly disposed in the housing. The knob assembly comprises a rotor that is operationally engageable with a locking unit. The locking unit comprises a locking pin having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is energized in a lateral direction towards the rotor. A stopper is rotatably energized about a pivot. The key is received in a slot of the housing. The key comprises a provision for being operatively engaged with the distal end of the locking pin. The key is restricted in the slot in an engaged condition of the distal end of the locking pin with the provision. The key is retrievable from the slot at a pre-defined position of the rotor, in a disengaged condition of the distal end of the locking pin with the provision. The proximal end of the locking pin is energized laterally by means of a spring supported on a supporting member. A knob is coupled rotatably with the rotor to selectively retrieve the key from the slot. The rotor comprises a groove on a side of the rotor. The stopper is energized rotatably in a direction of retrieval of the key. The stopper is configured to abut with the distal end of the locking pin in a retrieved condition of the key. The locking pin is laterally immovable in the retrieved condition of the key; making the knob immovable in the retrieved condition. The proximal end of the locking pin is engaged in the slot in the retrieved condition of the key. The stopper is rotated downwardly by the key being inserted in the slot, and the distal end is getting engaged in the provision. The provision in the key is a hole.
Reference will now be made to an improved cylinder lock for vehicles which is explained with the help of figures. The figures are for the purpose of illustration only and should not be construed as limitations on the assembly and mechanism of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, referral numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.
Figure 1 depicts an ignition lock (100) for vehicles in accordance with the present disclosure. The ignition lock (100) comprises a housing (1). In one embodiment, the

housing (1) may comprise a plurality of sub components such as an upper casing (la), a base cover (lb), etc. for accommodating the various components of the present ignition lock (100). Disposed in the housing (1) is a knob assembly (2). The knob assembly (2) comprises a knob (2a) being coupled with a rotor (2b). In the mounted condition, the rotor (2b) is disposed in the housing (1) and the knob (2a) protrudes externally from the upper casing (la) for being manually operated by a user. In an embodiment, the upper casing (la) may be provided with indications (as shown in Figure 2), depicting multiple positions of the knob (2a). The knob assembly (2) may be provided with one or more torque limiting mechanisms coupled with the rotor (2b). The knob assembly (2) may be disposed in the housing (1) with pins and engaged with a cam by means of a spring to rotatably configure the knob assembly (2). However, many different configurations of securing the knob assembly (2) in the housing (1) are possible. All such configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure. A key (3) is disposed in the housing (1) along a longitudinal axis Y-Y. The upper casing (la) may be provided with a cut-out (C) for receiving the key (3). In an embodiment, the cut-out (C) is located over a slot (S) in the housing (1) whereby the key (3) can be accommodated/integrated. Further, there may be provided a PCB assembly (4), electrical contact terminals and one or more components such as electrical motors, cam mechanisms etc. according to different embodiments of the present disclosure. Any combination of such components, known in the art, may be employed according to different modifications depending on the requirement of the user/manufacturer. All such modifications shall be construed to be within the scope of the present application. A locking unit (5) is disposed in the housing (1). The locking unit (5) is configured operatively with the rotor (2b) of the knob assembly (2) and the key (3).
As shown in Figures 3 to 8, the locking unit (5) comprises a locking pin (6) disposed along a lateral axis X-X in the housing (1). The locking pin (6) has a proximal end (6a) and a distal end (6b). The locking pin (6) is energized laterally, along axis X-X towards the rotor (2b) of the knob assembly (2). In one embodiment, the proximal end (6a) of the locking pin (6) rests on a circular side of the rotor (2b). The locking pin (6) is energized by a spring (7) supported on a member (8). In a non-restricting manner, the present disclosure depicts that the member (8) on which the spring (7) is supported is a bush. The said member (8) is rigidly fixed in housing (1). There may be provided

a guiding slot to support the lateral movement of the locking pin (6) during operation of the said ignition lock (100). In the mounted condition, the distal end (6b) is operatively engageable with a provision (3a), such as hole (as shown in Figure 9) of the key (3). The locking unit (5) further comprises a stopper (9) being rotatably energized about a pivot (P) formed on a bracket (10). In one embodiment, the stopper (9) may be energized in a direction of the retrieval of the key (3) so as to be disposed remain along the axis X-X when the key is retrieved. The stopper (9) is configured to abut with the distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6) in a retrieved condition of the key (3). In this condition, there may be provided a stopping face (10a) in the bracket housing (10) for limiting the rotary movement of the stopper (9) about the pivot (P) in the direction of retrieval of the key (3). In one embodiment, the bracket (10) is configured to be secured in the housing (1) so as to mount the locking unit (5) therein. The retrieved condition of the key (3) herein may be defined as a condition wherein the key (3) is removed from the slot (S).
During operation of the said keyless ignition lock (100), the user/rider has to manually perform discrete operations, i.e. from handle 'LOCK' to 'OFF' position and 'OFF' to 'ON' position and a 'KEY RELEASE' position of the knob (2a). It is understood by a person skilled in the art that in the 'LOCK' position, the handle bar of the vehicle is immovable. Accordingly, in the 'OFF' condition of the ignition lock, the handle bar of the vehicle is unlocked but the engine cannot be started. In the 'ON' condition, the engine can be started. Further, in order to access a key for peripheral locks on the vehicle, the knob will have to be moved to the 'KEY RELEASE' position. At ON position, the electrical contact unit may be in contact with the terminals in the electronic casing unit and allow the ignition lock to start ignition at ON Position only.
Referring to Figures 1 to 9, the bush (8) is fitted in the housing (1) to guide the locking pin (6). The locking pin (6), in the mounted condition, is energized towards the rotor (2b) under the effect of spring (7). In an inserted condition of the key (3) in the slot (S), the distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6) is engaged with the provision (3a) of the key (3). This is an engaged condition of the distal end (6b) and the key (3) is restricted in the slot (S). In this condition, the proximal end (6a) of the locking pin (6) rests on the side of the rotor (2b). The rotor (2b) can be rotated by the knob (2a).

For selectively removing the key (3) from the slot (S), the knob (2a) is rotated manually to a specified position (i.e. 'KEY RELEASE' position). In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the key (3) can only be removed from the key insertion slot (S) only when the knob (2a) is in the 'KEY RELEASE' position.
When the knob (2a) of the knob assembly (2) is rotated to the pre-determined position, a groove (G) on the side of the rotor (2b) is aligned with the proximal end (6a) of the locking pin (6). In this condition, due to spring action of the spring (7), the locking pin (6) traverses laterally towards the rotor (2b) and the proximal end (6a) gets engaged with the groove (G). In this condition, the distal end (6b) gets disengaged with the provision (3a) of the key (3) and a disengaged condition of the distal end (6b) is achieved. In this condition, the key (3) can be manually retrieved from the slot (S). During the retrieval of the key (3), due to resilient action, the stopper (9) rotates upwardly about pivot (P) to abut with the distal end (6b) in the retrieved condition of the key (3). The stopper (9) thereby prevents lateral movement of the locking pin (6) and the proximal end (6a) remains engaged with the groove (G) of the rotor (2b). The locking pin (6) is immovable in the retrieved condition of the key (3), thereby making the rotor (2b) and the knob (2a) immovable.
When the key (3) is re-inserted in the key insertion slot (S), the stopper (9) is rotated downwards by the key (3), and the provision (3a), gets aligned with an axis of the distal end (6b) of locking pin (6). In this condition, the user rotates the knob (2a) which in turn enables rotary movement of the rotor (2b). This causes the proximal end (6a) in getting disengaged from the groove (G) by cam follower mechanism and the locking pin (6) translates towards the slot (S). The distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6) gets engaged with the provision (3a). The rotor (2b) is rotatable in this condition. The key (3) is locked in the slot (S) when the knob position is changed to any position other than the 'KEY RELEASE' position. This prevents removal of key (3) in the running condition of the vehicle.
List of reference numerals:

Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that

the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B"
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:
1. An ignition lock (100) for vehicles integrated with a key (3), the ignition lock
(100) comprising;
a housing (1);
a knob assembly (2) being disposed in the housing (1); the knob assembly (2) comprises a rotor (2b) being operationally engageable with a locking unit;
the locking unit (5) comprises;
a locking pin (6) having a proximal end (6a) and a distal end (6b); wherein the proximal end (6a) is energized laterally towards the rotor (2b); and
a stopper (9) being rotatably energized about a pivot (P); and the key (3) being received in a slot (S) of the housing; the key comprising a provision (3a) for being operatively engaged with the distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6), wherein
the key (3) is restricted in the slot (S) in an engaged condition of the distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6) with the provision (3a); and
the key (3) is retrievable from the slot (S) at a pre¬defined position of the rotor (2b), in a disengaged condition of the distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6) with the provision (3a).
2. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal end (6a)
of the locking pin (6) is energized laterally by means of a spring supported on
a member (8).

3. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a knob (2a) is coupled rotatably with the rotor (2b) to selectively retrieve the key (3) from the slot (S).
4. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor (2b) comprises a groove (G) on an outer surface of the rotor (2b).
5. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper (9) is energized rotatably in a direction of retrieval of the key (3).
6. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in 1, wherein the stopper (9) is configured to abut with the distal end (6b) of the locking pin (6) in a retrieved condition ofthekey(3).
7. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pin (6) is laterally immovable in the retrieved condition of the key (3); and the knob (2a) is immovable in the retrieved condition.
8. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal end (6a) of the locking pin (6) is engaged in the groove (G) in the retrieved condition of the key (3).
9. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper (9) is rotated downwardly by the key (3) being inserted in the slot (S), and the distal end (6b) is getting engaged in the provision (3a).
10. The ignition lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the provision (3a) in the key (3) is a hole.